Traveling Through Art to Oriental Medicine

People often ask me what made me decide to “abandon Art” to become an Acupuncturist.  I’ve been an artist ever since I can remember and in ernest at age 12 when I won my first award.  I have a Bachelor’s and a Masters in Fine Art and I’ve taught at the University of New Mexico and the Atlanta College of Art.  I marketed my work over the course of 27 years exhibiting in New Mexico, Atlanta, Maine, and Pennsylvania.

It seems I’ve been all my life an artist, still am though I rarely now touch a brush to canvas. I have a new canvas, new materials and new tools these days that are just as fulfilling as my old ones. The canvas is the patient.  They are an already existing painting that has its own color, rhythm, and light that create a certain pattern. It is a very creative act to discern that pattern and from there to see where and how it became disharmonious causing their health to falter. The medium is Oriental Medicine with it’s 3,500 years of experimentation, experience and knowledge. The tools of course are needles, tui na (chinese medical massage), cupping, moxibustion, and custom herbal formulas.

I will always love Art.  It is part of all of us!  As an artist I never knew if my paintings ever really made an impact on anyone’s life.  The real difference for me between Art and Oriental Medicine is that I know this medicine makes a difference in the world.  I get to see that and be part of that every day.  In many ways, my Art career was a training ground for what I was meant to do!  I love what I do and I feel so blessed that I am able to do it!!!

~ Constance Fraatz, AP/DOM